Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire through Getty Pictures
Legendary quarterback Tom Brady rejects the notion that gamers select to signal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers merely due to his presence.
In response to ProFootballTalk’s Michael David Smith, Brady expressed his perception that it’s the complete bundle offered by the Buccaneers group that appeals to free brokers, saying:
“Naturally, I am an older participant, and I have been very lucky to know lots of guys. Guys select this group due to the group, not due to me. Now we have an excellent group, nice teammates, and I believe persons are excited to come back be a part of an excellent group of individuals, an excellent group of males. It is by no means about one individual. That is not ever what this sport is about. It is the last word group sport. I really like taking part in with gamers which might be skilled, gamers that wish to work exhausting, and gamers that put the group first.”
The newest instance of a big-name participant selecting the Bucs occurred final week when potential future Corridor of Fame broad receiver Julio Jones signed a one-year take care of Tampa.
Whether or not Jones’ determination was based mostly solely on Brady or the whole bundle, there is no such thing as a query that Brady has made the Buccaneers a much more fascinating vacation spot.
Previous to Brady’s arrival in 2020, the Bucs had missed the playoffs in 12 straight seasons and hadn’t had a profitable document since 2016.
Brady modified that instantly, main Tampa to an 11-5 document and a Tremendous Bowl win in his first season on the helm. That marked the seventh Tremendous Bowl win of Brady’s profession when mixed with the six he gained as a member of the New England Patriots.
Final season, the Bucs gained the NFC South with a 13-4 mark and returned to the playoffs, however they fell to the eventual Tremendous Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams within the NFC Divisional Spherical.
Brady introduced his retirement after the season, however that solely lasted for a couple of month earlier than he introduced he was returning for a twenty third NFL season on the age of 45.
Whereas observers have lengthy assumed that Brady will drop off finally, that hasn’t been the case, as he continues to carry out at an elite, MVP-caliber degree.
Final season, Brady loved among the best statistical campaigns of his profession, finishing 67.5 p.c of his passes for a league-leading 5,316 yards and 43 touchdowns.
On condition that degree of efficiency, there may be little doubt that gamers are drawn to the Buccaneers due to him, particularly in the case of skill-position gamers like Jones.
Even after tight finish Rob Gronkowski retired for a second time, Brady could have a humiliation of riches at his disposal in 2022 with wideouts Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Russell Gage and Jones, in addition to tight finish Cameron Brate and working again Leonard Fournette.
Brady additionally has the advantage of a high offensive line and a robust protection, and there’s no query that his play had a major hand in serving to the Bucs put collectively arguably the very best general roster within the NFL.
